Bard College at Simon's Rock Reviews

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AA graduate

06/05/2011

Reviewer is A current student here.

3 out of 3 people found this review useful.
1 of 8

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Great for these types of students

Simon's Rock is a community of very unique individuals. We all come from different experiences, but we all share that drive that gives us a desire to begin college early. We are quirky, and erratic, but also determined and ambitious.

Tips for prospective students

Just be yourself! Simon's Rock admissions process is known for not placing complete emphasis on the numbers; they want to know you for who you are. Don't feel intimated by other applicants who may seem to be more qualified than you because we each bring our own uniqueness to the table. Show it!

Bang for the buck

Simon's Rock is admittedly quite expensive, however they try to give you what they can so that you can attend. Whether or not it will be worth the money is ultimately up to you and what you make out of the community at Simon's Rock. There are a plethora of opportunities for you to take advantage of, but if you choose not to utilize them, that is your decision.

Am enjoying being here

Simon's Rock is a bit like the island of misfit toys. Many of the students who come here left high school because they were more motivated and engaged than their peers, so a lot of people make very special connections with both students and faculty. However, it is college and with that comes a lot of stress and adjustment. Ultimately, it is up to you to make your experience at Simon's Rock enjoyable.

Am learning a lot

Studying the sciences at Simon's Rock can be a bit tricky, since it is very small and is known for its liberal arts. However, although not many classes are offered continuously, the classes that given are very challenging and the professors are helpful. The classes are super small and it's easy to get to personally know your class and professor. Upper level classes in the BA program are offered as tutorials.

If you plan on staying four years, ignore the following. TAKE ALL OF YOUR PREREQS BUT CALC. If you have to take calc, wait until you transfer because it isn't 100% that it'll transfer.

Bang for the buck

It's way too overpriced.

Am enjoying being here

The people here are AMAZING. I've meet some of my favorite people. The only down side is... unless you have a car... you are stuck on this campus. Going into town can only satisfy you needs for about a week. And don't get me started about when it snows...

Am learning a lot

Depending on your major, you'll either have plethora of classes, or will only be able to complete you prereqs. It sometimes sucks because a class might not be offered a certain semester or every other year and if you plan on transferring you'll have to wait.

the best part about it is getting out of high school a couple years early. it definitely saves lots of money if you're in private schools. the kids are also pretty great and diverse. everybody fits in somewhere, and for the most part in multiple somewheres.

What to do for fun

there are many, many on-campus events, including guest speakers; movie screenings; concerts; festivals; and dances (which are held pretty much weekly). besides that, there's always the town, which is small but great if you know where to go.

Food and Dining

the dining hall food is very hit and miss. many people live on pizza, which is generally considered the most consistently good food on campus. they have many events with special food for the occasion. on discovery days and parents weekends, the food is great - they go all out! otherwise, the snack bar is a popular place to eat between 7 and 11 pm.

Dorm Life

the tri-dorms (all freshmen live here) are a bit grody - those who get into kendrick (the newest, cleanest of the three; also co-ed) are very lucky. meanwhile crosby and dolliver (female dorm and male dorm, respectively) are outdated. the heating/lighting/space/etc. is all sufficient, though.the rest of the dorms are very nice.

Academic Rigor

some weeks it's easy to become stressed with the amount of readings, worksheets, papers, etc. we sometimes have, but i always make it through alright and with time for extracurricular activities and downtime.

Tips for prospective students

don't stress out! the people in admissions are very sweet and honestly do their best to accomodate you. most of the school does.the workload sounds scary, but it's not as bad as you're anticipaiting.

In three sentences

the teachers are great; the administration is for the most part very good. student life on campus is very active. great barrington consists essentially of main street and a few small streets adjoining to it, and can sometimes be boring.

Andro

Burning of thesises (for the seniors) and any unwanted papers (for any other years) at the very end of the year.

What to do for fun

There isn't much since GB is in the middle of no where, but there are shuttles into town and there are events basically every weekend.

Food and Dining

Not great, but has a variety of options-- gluten free and vegan/vegetarian options are available, but not plentiful.

Dorm Life

There are activities to do in the dorms, and each freshman dorm has its pros and cons.

Academic Rigor

The classes are incredibly hard, but extremely worth it.

Tips for prospective students

Don't take a large course load you're first semester expecting you won't drop a class.

In three sentences

Even though it is the most stress a person can endure, any amount of time at this school is worth it. The professors are incredible and have so much wisdom to share. The community of students also makes every class a unique experience.

Karishma from Newport News, VA

06/16/2013

Reviewer is A past student here.

1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
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Greek Life

There are no sororities/fraternities.

Bang for the buck

Simon's Rock is a really expensive school and has its pros and cons. It isn't for everyone but it does give out a lot of scholarships. Most students transfer after one or two years because students get an Associates Degree after two years and can transfer into another college as a junior.

What to do for fun

There is always a lot of campus events and there is a dance every Saturday which students DJ and people get pretty into it. There are a bunch of clubs and you can always start your own club or make your own event on campus.

Food and Dining

People complain a lot about the dining hall but the food is always edible and there are vegetarian and vegan options.

Dorm Life

Freshmen dorms aren't too great but it's typical dorm life as there would be at any other school.

Academic Rigor

The course level and work load at Simon's Rock is comparable to Ivy League schools. It's pretty tough.

Tips for prospective students

You have to be well prepared to attend college because it will not be as easy as high school. Everyone at Simon's Rock did great in school so don't be disappointed if your grades aren't as good as they were before. Try to maintain a balance and stay focused.

In three sentences

Simon's Rock is a great place for high school students who are ready to attend college one or two years early. The professors are wonderful and there is a unique, small community at the rock.

Kayla from West Grove, PA

06/27/2013

Reviewer is A past student here.

1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
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Clubs and Activities

There are quite a few unique clubs and activities, and you can start a club for just about anything that you can get a few people together for and an adult who's willing to be the advisor. Do be advised that not all of the clubs listed in their admissions info still exist -- I tried to join a club just to find out it didn't exist, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing because then I had the experience of creating and leading the club, which was not only fun but adds to the resume.

Great for these types of students

If you love to learn and you love to work really hard, this is a good place for you. But if you only want to take particular classes, maybe not - as I said earlier there are particular departments that are much stronger than others.

What to do for fun

I like to do the traditional sorts of fun things, if you want to put it that way - I like the movies, bowling, and people-watching. There is a small movie-theatre in town and a small bowling alley. There is plenty of high-end shopping for such a small town. Unfortunately there's not a whole lot to do that's not really expensive, and as a freshmen getting to those things is difficult unless you very quickly make friends with the upperclassmen who have cars. There is a shuttle service to the two sides of town that runs every half an hour but only seats 6 students at a time so can be a pain sometimes.

Food and Dining

The dining hall food usually tastes pretty good, sometimes they get a little adventurous. Personally I'm a plain-and-simple person when it comes to food, I don't like too many spices or extra flavors, etc, so sometimes I found it to be a little overdone, but if you like food that way then great. I'm vegetarian and they do offer great vegetarian and vegan options at all three meals on the weekdays and both meals on the weekends. The snack bar is great, they have plenty of options and can make things for the most part however you like it. I would definitely recommend keeping food in your room unless you can handle two to three meals and day and a snack in the evening on a daily basis - personally I need to eat more often than that and there are vending machines in ONE spot on campus, and they're not always well-stocked, so getting food between dining hall/snack bar hours can be pretty difficult without a car.

Dorm Life

I only attended Simon's Rock for my freshmen year, and then transferred, which means that I only got to live in the freshmen dorms. From what I can tell, if you stay more than a year the dorm quality significantly improved. I lived in the co-ed freshmen dorm, probably the nicest of the three freshmen houses. The initial roommate matching process doesn't always go very smoothly, the form is pretty simple (just asks if you smoke, if you're neat/messy, if you're a morning bird/night owl), although it does for some, and they WILL work with you to make sure you end up in a situation that is at least mostly comfortable. Additionally the Residence Directors are all fabulous, I can speak for most of them because although my dorm only had one it is truly a close-knit community and I interacted with most of them fairly often. It can be frustrating to live in the dorms, but of course that is expected anywhere.

Academic Rigor

My first semester was a piece of cake - 15 credits, 4 100-level classes and 1 200-level modular class. I got 8 hours of sleep a night and had plenty of time for a social life. BUT my second semester was a nightmare - only 17 credits but I moved up to 1 300-level course, 3 200-level courses, and only 1 100-level course. I made sure not to plan my next semester with at least two 100-levels. Even in the first semester when my work was a piece of cake, the professors really make you think about things, it's not the cookie-cutter memorization and regurgitation of high school, and many of the professors will treat you like grad school students even though you're only a 16-year-old undergraduate. They're all SUPER nice, however, and most want to work with you to help you succeed so if you're not afraid to ask for help, you can definitely get it.

Tips for prospective students

If you at all have the possibility, pay a visit before you enroll. Make sure that you fit in with the current students and if you visit on a Discovery Day that you fit in with the other prospective students; Simon's Rock attracts a very unique bunch and it can be overwhelming if, like me, you're not very outgoing.

In three sentences

Simon's Rock is truly the most unique place I have ever seen, but it is only a good fit for some. Most students have an extremely outgoing personality and can be very imposing, so shy personalities don't fit in well. Additionally some major programs are much stronger than others - theater, math/science, and literature are, in my opinion, the most well-supported and largest majors there.

Many clubs Many activities Not a club for something you like? Start one (but don't be pretentious about it, please). Have an idea for an activity? You can make it happen. Come and discover.

Great for these types of students

Who want to learn many things Who can keep up with work That is about the only requirement. Also, if you can't think critically, this will be more difficult than it needs to be for you, not only academically, but also socially. And though geeks are totally accepted here (without any problems at all. Dolliver literally has a cult of League of Legends players), most of the students are multi-social and socially neutral. So there are no clicks and they are mostly pretty average people.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

There are so many traditions here that I could honestly not list any. They are all grey, and it is more authentic to experience then yourself. Plus, we don't initiate so don't be intimidated.

Bang for the buck

To get it to you straight, this place is expensive. Almost 65K a year. But the academics are pheniminal beyond belief, and that is what people go to college for. Just make sure you work hard during your application and apply for many scholarships (both from the school and third party). If you can afford it without a hitch then I have no idea what you are waiting for. PLUS it is an EARLY college, so you can leave high school to do fantastic work! what more could you ask for?

What to do for fun

Boffing (the sport, not sex, though lots of people have sex here) Dodgeball (Dodgeball here is like a religion, not to sound impious or anything) Yoga (more types than I can count) Zumba Cooking Homework Sleeping (you will like this one a lot) And there are always amazing annual events like Dolliver Drag Day (that's right, and it is campus wide) May Day A Dance EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT There is a lot to do. Don't worry about that anyways, you'll have too much homework.

Food and Dining

Eh. There are days when food is KICK BUTT. This week they had this AMAZING lunch with curry/rice/bread combo to die for. Other days it is mediocre.

Dorm Life

First year forms are all right. Kendrick (coed) is the newest of the three first year dorms, and it rocks. Dolliver (male) is at par with Crosby (female). Both are fairly age but perfectly livable and full of character. Students have moved into Doll over from mansions without a single complaint. Just remember that this is college. The upperclassmen dorms are beautiful! Hill is right on lower campus, and if you have a car/are thesising, you can live in Pibbly (coed apartments) which is THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BUILDING EVER. Don't expect to live there until senior year, though. The freshman dorms have parietals, so if you are in them past a certain time, you et in trouble. Other dorms do not. You MUST live in a freshman dorm your freshman year, and you can. Come back to them as upperclassmen to have single rooms (or rooms with balconies in Rollover) if you would like to. It is actually really fun in the freshman dorms.

Academic Rigor

We are ranked 98 in Acamdeics by Princeton, out of 99, and that is higher than Harvard! This school is RIGOROUS, there is so much homework (two hours for every hour of class) here, and it shows in your ability to work and think critically. Thee variety in undergraduate work, from science to politics to theatre to arts to mathematics, is vast.

Tips for prospective students

Work hard on your applications, and remember that the FIRST day you are here you will have a class.

In three sentences

This place is amazing. It can get very cold here. The food could be better.

Sophomore from Albany, NY

06/10/2015

Reviewer is A current student here.

8 of 8

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Campus Safety

The campus has a complete campus involvement policy as it relates to the safety of the students, faculty and staff. If we see a problem, like a car or person they haven't seen before on campus, you can call or go to security and they will fix the problem as quickly as they can.

Greek Life

Non existent. The school is too small and we like to focus on our academics

Clubs and Activities

There are tons of existing clubs and activities on campus and if you cannot find a club that fits you and you can find three other students and an advisor for it, make your own.

Great for these types of students

-Students who are bored with high school and want more out of their education -Open minded students who are willing to accept a challenge -Future engineers and other math and science related fields -Musicians, artists or those who want to peruse other liberal arts professions

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The facilities are all pretty nice for a school as small as ours. There's a swing next to the admissions office hanging from a large tree that you can always find people using when the weather is nice. There is upperclassmen housing about a mile up a hill from the rest of campus. This is also where the Provost has his house. Just past the upper campus, as we like to call it, there is a lake that lots of students like to go to.

Bang for the buck

It's really expensive, but there are tons of scholarships and aid that the school offers if you do, in fact, need it. The financial aid office is very understanding of the fact that families generally were not expecting students to be going to college for another two years usually, so they do what they can to split the aid throughout the students.

What to do for fun

There's a ton of activities going on all the time

Food and Dining

Food options are pretty varied in the dining hall. Although the hours are a little strange and there are gaps in the day where there is nowhere to find food on the campus, students figure it out.

Dorm Life

There are always activities going on in the evenings. From movie screenings, craft projects, things involving food, etc. So if you need a study break, it isn't difficult to find something to do. Also, there are at least 2 peer advocates (PA's) in each dorm who will be mentors and bridges between administration, the student life office and students, as well as 2 adult Residence Directors to ensure the safety of the students.

Academic Rigor

There will be lots of long nights of studying. There will be a lot expected of you, but there are tutors for every class offered and your professors have office hours that you can take advantage of and ask as many questions as you would like.

Tips for prospective students

Be true to yourself, but don't be closed minded. Simon's Rock is a liberal arts school and students have a plethora of different opinions on things. Don't be afraid to ask questions and have discussions with people. Also, be ready to speak in class, a lot! Teachers will call on you and ask what you think about the material, so be prepared. Its a little daunting at first, but you get the hang of it rather quickly.

In three sentences

Simon's Rock is a very small, community oriented school with discussion based learning and small classes. Teachers are very considerate and the campus has great tools in place to make sure that your academic transition from high school to college is smooth. Honestly, the food could be better, but the dining hall staff do indeed try :)

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